Card case



July 14, 1964 c}, GORDAN 3,140,777

CARD CASE Filed Jan. 28, 1963 INVENTOR ALVIN C. GORDAN BY F'IQWIQZWATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,140,777 CARD CASE Alvin C. Gordan,Bradshaw, Nebr. (Highways 34 and 81, Box 336, York, Nebr.) Filed Jan.28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,384 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-1) This invention relatesto devices adapted to contain playing cards, and is particularlyconcerned with the provision of such a device, commonly known as a cardcase, which automatically moves cards contained therein to an easilyengageable position upon opening of the case.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for containing playingcards when such cards are not in use. Some of such devices comprisesimple cardboard boxes having flap-closing elements at opposite endsthereof whereby a deck of playing cards can be inserted therein, andremoved therefrom. Other of such devices, which are somewhat moreelaborate, include a drawer-type container, which, under manualoperation, is slidable into and out of a housing. Still another type ofcard-carrying device includes a case having a removable lid, the caseand lid being so arranged that the cards are disposed within the case instanding relation.

The discussion in the preceding paragraph is but exemplary of priorconstructions which have been suggested, and is not intended to be anexhaustive explanation of every card-carrying device previouslymarketed, patented, or otherwise disclosed. However, the types ofdevices discussed in such paragraph exemplify the problems encounteredin efiiciently removing cards therefrom. In each instance, all of thecards in a deck must be grasped by an edge if the deck is to be removedin a single operation. To prevent the disassembly of the cards anddispersal thereof in diverse directions, it is necessary to applysubstantial pressure to the edge being grasped at least during theinitial removal operation. In short, the prior devices do not operate toprovide for convenient and efficient removal of a deck of cards.

The present invention is particularly concerned with providing a cardcase which is not subject to the aforesaid disadvantages. Morespecifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cardcase which yields an automatic movement of the cards contained thereinwhereby all of the cards can be conveniently grasped, as a deck, andremoved completely from the device.

In line with the foregoing general objects, an even more specific objectof the present invention is to provide a card-carrying case having apivotally openable lid or cover portion which, when pivoted to openposition, automatically delivers a substantial portion of each card to aposition where the deck of cards can be conveniently grasped. Inadditional detail, it is an important but specific object hereof toprovide a card-carrying case conforming with the preceding objects, andincluding a housing or outer tray member, an inner tray member, and aclosure, so assembled and arranged that opening of the closure slidesthe inner tray member to a position where the same delivers the cardsexteriorly of the outer tray member.

Notwithstanding the specific objects explained in the immediatelypreceding paragraphs, there are certain further important generalobjects of the present invention. These include: (a) the provision of acard-carrying case yielding the aforesaid advantages, and in additionbeing so designed as to be capable of inexpensive construction; (b) theprovision of such a card-carrying case which is formed of separablecomponents that can be fabricated from metal, plastic, or other suitablematerial and then easily assembled; (c) the provision of such acard-carrying case which presents exteriorly planar surfaces adapted"ice to receive printed indicia, such as suitable advertisements,personal name imprints, or the like; (d) the provision of such acard-carrying case which incorporates means thereon and therein forinter-engagement between the components forming the case whereby thesame cannot shake loose, or become disassembled and lost, and further,whereby the case can be maintained easily in closed condition whendesired; and (e) the provision of such a case which proves troublefreewith continued operation even when formed of comparatively inexpensivematerials.

The invention lies in the combination arrangement disposition and formof various constituent elements incorporated therein. The invention willbe better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, willbecome readily apparent when consideration is given to the followingdetailed description. Such description refers to the annexed drawingspresenting a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention. Inthe drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a card-carrying case constructed inaccordance herewith as the same would appear when in closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the card-carrying case shown in FIGURE1, but as the same would appear when in open position; and

FIGURE 3 is a side view, partially in section, and showing the componentparts of the case in open position.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein acard-carrying case 2 comprising a base housing or outer tray member 4,and a closure member 6 for the outer tray member or base housing 4. Theclosure member 6, as explained more fully below, is pivotally mountedwith respect to the outer tray member or base housing 4 whereby the sameis pivotal from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown inFIGURE 2.

The case 2, in addition to including the outer tray member 4 and theclosure member 6, has an inner tray member 8. The inner tray member 8,as also explained more fully below, is reciprocal within the basehousing or outer tray member 4.

For convenience, the term outer tray member is used hereinbelowexclusively. However, it is to be understood that the outer tray membercan equally well be regarded as a base housing, and thus in the appendedclaim, the terms outer tray member and base housing are both used, sincethe respective terms facilitate properly defining the invention.

If reference is again made to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the outertray member 4 includes a base wall 10, upstanding side walls 12 and 14,and rear wall 16. The base wall It) is generally rectangular in shape,as are the upstanding side Walls 12 and 14, and the rear wall 16.Moreover, the preferred embodiment hereof contemplates forming thevarious walls of the outer tray member 4 as an integral body. Injectionmolding techniques are readily adapted to the formation of such astructure, but alternatively, such tray member may be formed from sheetstock to provide the ultimate construction shown.

The closure member 6, like the outer tray member 4, is preferablyintegrally formed. The closure member includes a top wall 18 and a frontwall 20 depending from the top wall and specifically one edge thereof.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a pivot shaft 22 ex tends entirely acrossthe rear top edge of the case 2. Such pivot shaft is supported insuitable pivot bearing blocks 24 which essentially comprise, forexample, ring members fixed in opposed aligned relation on the facingsides of walls 12 and 14 at the rear upper edge thereof. The rings 24rotatably support the shaft 22, and While such type of pivot connectionis conventional, it should be understood that other types of pivotalmountings can readily be employed without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention. For example, pivot pins projecting throughsuitable apertures in the walls 12 and'14 and cooperating with dependingpivot brackets extending from the top wall 18 might well replace thepivot means presented in the drawing.

Regardless of the particular form of pivot means used, the cover orclosure member 6 carries at the rear end thereof a depending flange suchas that generally desig nated by the numeral 25. The flange, as shown,is rectangular in shape and is dimensioned so as to fit between theinterfaces of walls 12 and 14 so as to not interfere with pivoting ofthe cover member 6. Rather than use a flange plate such as thatdesignated by numeral 25, depending fingers or the like can easilyreplace the flange, and in fact, other means reacting between the covermember and the inner tray member to be described, can be incorporated.

The inner tray member 8 has generally a corresponding shape to the outertray member 4. The inner tray mem ber includes a base wall 26,upstanding side walls 28, and an upstanding rear end wall 30. The outerdimensions of the inner tray member 8 are such that the inner traymember is easily reciprocal within the outer tray member 4 between therearmost position thereof shown in solid line in FIGURE 3, and theforwardmost position thereof shown in phantom line in FIGURE 3.

In addition to the constituent elements described above, the preferredform of card-carrying case constructed in accordance herewith providesrecesses 32 in opposite side walls 12 and 14, the recesses facinginwardly of the case 2, and toward one another. Further, the preferredform of case provided hereby includes projections 34- extending fromopposite side walls 28 of the inner tray member and being disposedwithin the recesses 32. The projection and cooperating slot arrangementpermits reciprocal movement of the inner tray member 8, while at thesame time maintaining the inner tray member in generally nonremovablerelation to the outer tray member 4.

With the arrangement constructed as described above, the pivot means,including the pivot shaft 22 and pivot bearings 24, serves to mount theclosure member 6 with the top wall 18 thereof pivotally movable from afirst position where the top wall overlies the base wall of the outertray member and the front wall 20 closes the open end or forward end ofthe outer tray member to a second position where the front wall 20 isfree of the open end of the outer tray member and the top wall is upwardfrom the location which such wall assumed in the first position. Inother words, the closure member is pivotally movable from a firstposition as shown in FIGURE 1 to a second position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The inner tray member 8 which is reciprocally mounted within the outertray member, has its rear wall 30 disposed parallel to the rear end wall16 of the outer tray member. The flange which depends from the top wall18 of the closure member 6 is pivotally movable therewith from a firstposition, shown in solid line in FIG- URE 3, parallel to the rear wallof the inner tray member 8, to a second position angularly disposed withrespect to the wall 30. The flange 25, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 3,is engageable with the rear wall 30 of the inner tray member 8, andthus, as the closure or cover member 6 is moved from its position shownin FIGURE 1 to its position shown in FIGURE 2, the flange 25 pushes theinner tray member 8 toward the open end of the outer tray member, or tothe end of the outer tray member opposite the rear wall 16 thereof.

The side walls of the inner tray member 8 and outer tray member 10 aredisposed in adjacent and parallel relationship to one another, and it isby virtue of this disposition that the provision of elongated recesses34 on the side walls 12 and 14, and cooperating projections on the sidewalls 2% permits the reciprocal mounting of the inner tray member on orwithin the outer tray member.

Preferably the inner tray member 8, as shown, has substantially lesslength than the outer tray member 4. However, when cards are disposed onthe inner tray member 8 and the same is moved forwardly, then such cardsmove to a position where they extend past the open end of the outer traymember or housing. Particular reference is here made to FIGURE 3. Insuch figure, the dotted line A designates the front edge of a deck ofcards carried by the inner tray member 3 when the same is in itsrearmost position, and the cards are completely within the confines ofthe outer tray member 4. The dotted line B designates the front edge ofthe same deck of cards after the case 2 has been opened, and the innertray member 8 has been moved forwardly to its frontmost position. Itwill be noted that with forward movement of the inner tray member 8, asubstantial portion of the front edge of a deck of cards is exposed,whereby the side front edge portions of the cards can be convenientlygripped for removal of the deck from the case.

The distance d which the cards move should be correlated to the distanceD which the inner tray member 8 moves. Thus, the length of the elongatedslots 32 should be suificient to permit reciprocal movement of the innertray member 8 over a distance D. With proper correlation of the innerand outer tray members to a deck of normal playing cards, this distancewill be such that the deck is moved forwardly with opening of the caseby at least the distance d shown in FIGURE 3. Of course, in anyinstance, D equals 0!.

To insure locking of the case 2 in closed condition, as shown in FIGURE1, the front wall 20 of the cover or closure member 6 carries aninturned bottom projecting flange 40, which, as shown in FIGURE 3, isadapted to be frictionally engaged under the bottom wall 10 of the outertray member 4. Inwardly curved flange 40 is dimensioned so thatessentially it makes a press fit with the bottom wall 10.Notwithstanding the provision of such flange, however, it should beunderstood that any other suitable means for maintaining the cover inclosed posi tion can be incorporated in the device hereof. The flange 40merely provides a simple and efficient means for achieving the desiredresult, and it is for this reason that the same is incorporated in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

Although a single rectangular case has been shown and described in thedrawings, various modifications can be made thereto. For example, thecase may be constructed as two openable units with a common intermediatewall between the units. For example, if constructed as a double case,the wall 4 might serve as aside wall for two compartments of the case.Alternatively, the case may be constructed as a double unit with asingle closure member 6, in which event, separate flange elements 25 canbe incorporated on any pivot shaft, or in depending relation to theparticular cover or closure member 6 for each compartment. Thesemodifications are but illustrative of different assemblies which can bemade by utilizing the basic concepts of the instant invention.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of an illustrative andpreferred embodiment of the instant invention, it will be appreciatedthat the objects set forth at the outset of the present specificationhave been successfully achieved. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

A card case comprising:

(a) an outer tray member, said outer tray member having a longitudinallyextending base wall, upstanding side walls of a first length and a rearend wall;

(b) a closure member for said outer tray member, said closure membercomprising a top wall and a front wall depending from one edge of saidtop wall;

(0) pivot means pivotally mounting said closure member on said sidewalls of said outer tray member immediately adjacent said rear end wallfor pivotal (d) an inner tray member reciprocally mounted in said outertray member, said inner tray member having C3 member toward said end ofsaid outer tray member opposite said rear wall;

(g) elongated recesses in the side Walls of one of said tray membersfacing the side Walls of said other tray member, and projections on theside walls of said other tray member extending into said recessesrespectively whereby to reciprocally mount said inner tray member withinsaid outer tray member;

(h) said front wall carrying means cooperable with said base wall tomaintain said closure member in said first position.

a rear wall extending parallel to said rear end wall of said outer traymember and side walls having a 10 length less than said first length andbeing disposed adjacent and parallel to said side walls of said outertray member;

(:2) a flange depending from said top wall of said References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS closure member, disposedbetween the rear walls of 15 1348285 Brand 1912 said outer tray memberand said inner tray member 1827396 Luckett 1931 and being pivotallymovable therewith from a posi- FOREIGN PATENTS tion parallel to saidrear wall of said inner tray mem- 433,925 France Jan 19, 1912 ber to aposition angularly disposed thereto; 20 163 124 Great B i i M 12, 1921(1) said flange being engageable with said rear Wall 408,155 GreatBritain Apr. 5, 1934 of said inner tray member to push said inner tray913,694 France June 3, 1946

